Stiffer penalties sought for crimes of indecency

A senior member of the House of Representatives has filed a bill seeking to impose stiffer penalties on perpetrators of highly scandalous crimes that promote indecency.

Cebu Rep. Antonio Cuenco filed House Bill 2856 that aims to provide stiffer penalties and a fine ranging from P100,000 up to P2 million against offenders to minimize crimes of indecency, if the government cannot totally eradicate inappropriate and obscene behavior.

“The current law seems to be taken lightly by offenders since its penalties are minimal compared to the gravity of the crime,” the administration legislator stressed, as he pushed for the bill’s immediate passage. Cuenco revealed that grave scandal, indecency and pornography seriously violate and damage its victims.

“There is no justice if we let the criminals responsible for the grim days ahead of these victims walk away unscathed — only to be incarcerated for a mere six months or less,” he pointed out.

Cuenco said that violations of decency and good customs are punishable under Republic Act 3815, otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code instituted in the 1930s. “However, offenses penalized under these laws continue to rise, most of which have sufficiently punished, and some, even worse, with impunity,” he stressed.

“This is most likely because of the different means of violations perpetrated are not readily available.” Cuenco believes that there is an urgent need to amend provisions in RA 3815 in order to curtail further proliferation of pornography, indecency or grave scandal.